North of Nashville immerses viewers in the vibrant world of independent country artists seeking recognition in the Canadian music landscape. Guided by Andrea Morris, a tireless advocate for talented musicians, the film explores the innovative approach she develops to revolutionize radio tours and secure airplay for her roster of artists at AM to FM Promotions.

Faced with the challenge of breaking through the barriers of a heavily saturated industry, Andrea conceives a radical idea: instead of the conventional radio tour model, she designs a showcase that brings together seven remarkable country artists in Georgetown. By pooling their resources, the artists create a two-night event, complete with full band performances and an array of intimate interactions with influential radio programmers.

As the film unfolds, audiences are introduced to the diverse group of artists, each with their own unique sound and story. Through intimate interviews and backstage glimpses, ‘viewers witness the passion and determination that drives these musicians to pursue their dreams against all odds.

The showcase itself becomes a pivotal moment, where the artists pour their hearts into electrifying 30-minute sets, leaving the programmers captivated by their raw talent and authenticity. Beyond the performances, the film explores the connections formed during shared meals, after-show parties, and in-depth interviews, revealing the artists’ true colors.

I have worked with Andrea Morris (the producer/owner of AM to FM Promotions) before my days spent in film school. She took a chance on me when I had no connections, no formal training, and no camera skills, but a strong will to learn and grow in the industry. Five years later, she approached me with a concept to live-stream an artist showcase in Ontario to promote the artists. At this point in time, I had won two awards for a short doc I had directed, and another award for I doc I had produced and edited. I told Andrea; that there are many stones to be turned over and doing a live stream doesn’t do the artists any justice. So I pitched an idea of a 15-minute short doc that encompasses the entire event, 55 minutes later I present to you “North of Nashville: A Canadian Music Revolution.” It is my first mid-to-feature-length documentary that fuses vérité (think The Last Waltz”) with talking headinterviews that provide context to the groundbreaking showcase that took place.

“North of Nashville” was shot on March 29th and 30th, 2023, capturing the independent country artist showcase with the same name. Director Adam Bowman was able to secure exclusive access to Andrea Morris due to their extensive relationship filming live music since 2018. Andrea opened the door to 7 radio leaders in Canada, as well as 7 talented country artists from many different walks of life.

Most of the 7 artists were seen on Andrea’s AM to FM live concert series filmed in Toronto. They have never been seen in a more intimate and organic setting, exposing the true nature of where their music comes from. The film was shot in Georgetown, Ontario, roughly 45 minutes west of Toronto. The interviews were filmed at the Hotel everyone stayed at, and some were done on the mezzanine of the venue.

We shot on a Sony FX30 for the b-roll, interviews, and follow-camera during the performance shots. The wide shots for the performances were shot on a Sony a6300. The FX30 had a 16mm-55mm G master, and the a6300 had a Sigma 30mm on it. Austin Hendershot took all of the photos seen throughout the EPK and in the credits of the film.

Andrea’s resilience to keep the showcase running was the bane of Adam’s existence while filming the doc. Three artists and an audio engineer dropped out just days before the event. When we arrived for the first soundcheck there were no stage lights that were originally promised by the owner of the venue. Adam and Andrea scouted the location a few days before the showcase and ensured each other that what the other person was doing (running the showcase/filming a documentary) was going to pave the way for how people would view the independent country music industry.